Gate-fastener.



A. A. POCHYLA.

GATE FASTBNER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-27. 1912.

Patented SeptilY, 1912.

ADOLPH A. POCI-IYLA, OF WEST, TEXAS.

GATE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

Application filed February 27, 1912. Serial No. 680,271.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLIH A. PoorIYLA,

a citizen of the United States, residing at West, in the State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gate-Fastoners, of which the following is a specification. H V

This invention relates to improvements in latches especially adapted for use in con nection with swlnging gates and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device of this character which may be readily applied to any ordinary gate, and post therefor, and which will automatically lock the gate against the post.

With the above object in View, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention progresses, the improvement resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, accompanying this specification, there has been illustrated a simple and approved embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate and post therefor provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a portion of the gate and gate post. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the latch member. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the latch member. Fig. 5 is a view of the keeper.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a gate which is provided, as usual, with a latch post 2 and a hinge post 3, and the numerals 4 and 5 designate, re spectively, the latch and binge posts of the gate way of the fence.

The face of the latch post 2 of the gate 1 which abuts that of a fence post 4: when the gate is in a closed position is provided with an elongated recess or pocket 6, the latter being normally closed through the medium of a plate 7 This plate 7 is secured to the post 2 through the medium of suitable retaining elements such as screws 8, the latter being arranged adjacent the top and bottom edges of the said plate. The inner face of the plate 7 is provided with a rectangular guide member 9, the latter adapted to support the vertical member 10 of an L-shaped latch member. The plate is provided with an opening 11 through which the offset or horizontal member 12 of the said L-shaped latch extends. The opening 11 is elongated to provide for the vertical movement of the latch member, and the said latch member is I normally forced upward to engage with. the

wallprovided by the opening through the medium of a spring 13, the latter being of course positioned within the pocket formed by the gate post 2. The horizontally arranged oifset or finger 12 of the latch member preferably has its extremity flared from both its sides to a central point, and the said finger is provided with a rod 1 1 which extends through a suitable eye 15 provided upon the post 2 and which has its upper extremity formed with a suitable knob 16. The knob 16 as well as the rod is adapted when pressure is exerted upon the said rod to force the finger downwardly against the pressure of the spring 13'and it will be readily apparent that when the said pressure is released the finger 12 will be returned to its initial position. Secured upon the latch post- 4 of the fence and within the path of the finger 12 when the latter is in its normal posit-ion is a keeper 17. This keeper comprises substantially a U-shaped casing 18, the said casing being provided with spaced openings adapted for the reception of securing elements 19 and arranged upon each of the said securing elements and within the casing 18 are ring members 20 and 21.

One of the ring members, say 20, is adapted to be contacted by the finger 12 of the latch member carried by the gate when the same is swung to its closed position. This movement will raise the said ring 20 and cause the finger 12 to contact with the ring 21 which retards a further movement of the said gate and sustains the same in a locked position with relation to the post 4:. When the gate is to be released from between the catch rings, the latch member is forced downwardly until the finger 12 is arranged below the plane of the ring members 20 and 21, when the gate will be free to move in either direction.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that the improvement may be applied to any ordinary gate and fence -The combination with a hinged gate and -a fence post for the gate, a gravity catch upon the fence post, the latch post of the gate beingrecessed to provide a pocket hav- 7 plate normally clos- 111g an open face, of a provided ing the pocket, said plate being with an elongated opening ther provided with a guide member which is arranged within the pocket, a latch member within the pocket, a spring contacting and being fura the latch member to -force the same toward the top of the pocket, the top end of the latch having a right angular catch engaging finger, a rod extending from said finger and having its terminal provided with a knob and an eye surrounding the rod to provide a guide therefor and connected with the latch post of the gate.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH A. POGHYLA.

Witnesses:

L.'J. SULAK, FRANK M. COCEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

